Process and apparatus for manufacturing small particles of asphalt



y 1935- J. 5. DOWNARD 2,006,585

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SMALL PARTiCLES 0F ASPHALT FiledJune 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l i Q I III: I!

BY M 46 i i ATTO 'NE'YS J y 1935. l J. 5. DOWNARD 2,006,585- PROCESS ANDAPPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ,SMALL PARTICLES OF ASPHALT Filed June 27.1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATI'ORNEYS Patented July 2, l35

UNITED STATES rnocsss AND PATENT OFFICE 2,006,585 APPARATUS FOR MANUFAC-A TUBING SMALL PARTICLES OF ASPHALT Application June 27, 1933, SerialNo. 677,945

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturingsmall particles of asphalt which may be employed for surfacing roads.

An object of the invention is the provision of l a process in which theasphalt is heated and passed through perforations to provide strings ofasphalt which are dropped into moving water (for softening the asphaltso that it may be readily manipulated, the asphalt thus treated beingplaced in an extruding device for forcing the asphalt through anotherseries of perforations and the asphalt thus extruded is cut by aheatedelement and dropped into a liquid bath.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus forforming particles of asphalt adapted for building roads in which asphaltis placed but has been previously treated so that it may be more readilymanipulated and will not adhere to an extruding machine, the asphaltthus treated being placed under pressure in a confined space from whichit is forced through perforations, the asphalt being cut into particlesby a heated knife as it leaves the perforations, the particles ofasphalt being dropped into a bath which will aid in maintaining theparticles in a certain state of division.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device forforming particles of asphalt in which asphalt that has been previouslytreated to restrict its adhesive qualities is placed under pressure andforced through perforations, the asphalt having a division agent appliedto it as it is extruded and cut with a heated medium whence it is dropedinto a bath which will aid in maintaining division of the asphalt.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawingsforming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, beingsusceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention asexpresed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an arrangement showing the method of carrying out mycomplete process,

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a device for formingparticles of asphalt,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 3--3 ofFigure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a method forelectrically heating a knife,

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the knife showing the resistance wirestherein, and

Figure 6 is a side view in elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l designates an oven havinga central container Ill which is supplied with asphalt having aperforated bottom or screen I I. The container and likewise the asphaltare heated by electric cones I2 placed around the container within theoven. Any number of cones may be employed. These heating elementsconsist of a cone-shaped member formed of insulating material encircledby a resistance wire. Wires l3 and l3 are connected with a source ofcurrent for heating the resistance wires. A switch and rheostat (notshown) controls the circuit to each electric cone.

A trough I4 is located below the oven I!) so that as the strings orstreams I of asphalt flow by gravity they will fall into tank l4 whilebeing sprayed with water. A nozzle I6 is connected with a source ofwater under pressure, the flow of water being controlled by avalve Hi.The water will be discharged from the opposite end of the tank through apipe [1. A screen I8 is located across one end of the tank [4 adjacentthe outlet pipe I! in order to prevent the asphalt from fallingoutwardly with the water. The water in the tank I4 is maintained underagitation by the constant flow of the water'so that the strings ofasphalt coming in contact with the water may due to the fact that theasphalt is less adhesive at the surface. The strings of asphalt formspongy masses which are ready for application to the extruding machineshown more particularly in Fig. 2.

The extruding machine includes a base member on which is mounted acylinder 2|. A screw 22 is mounted longitudinally of the cylinder and isadapted to force the asphalt fed through the hopper 23 to the outer end24 of the cylinder.

be softened and may be more readily handled The outer end 24 is providedwith a removable plate 25 which is provided with perforations 26 throughwhich the asphalt is forced tending to form strings.

A motor 30 of any suitable type drives a shaft 3 l. A second shaft 3 Iis located in parallel relation with the shaft 3| upon which is mounteda sprocket 32 which in turn drives a chain 33, a sprocket 34, and a stubshaft 35. A spur gear 36 is secured to shaft 35 and driven thereby whilethe spur gear 38 is secured to a shaft 39. This shaft is eitherconnected to orforms a part of the screw 22 which is mounted in thecylinder 2 I.

A sprocket 40 mounted on the shaft 3| drives a chain 4| and a sprocket42 connected to a shaft 43,

by the knife 24.

.carried to the end 24 here to the cylinder and A sprocket 45 secured tothe shaft 3| drives a chain 45 which in turn drives the sprocket 32.

A knife 50 is secured to the outer end 5| of the shaft 43 and is adaptedto be revolved before the perforated plate 25 so that as the asphalt isextruded through perforation 25 it will be cut oil A Bunson burner 52 isconnected with a pipe 53 which in turn is connected with a source 'ofgas. A valve 5-2 controls the flow of gas to the Bunson burner. When theburner is lighted the gas projects in a horizontal plane across the pathof the moving knife 50 so that said knife will be heated at each cycleof rotation and just before it passes the perforated plate 25.

A hopper 55 has a discharge end 55 located directly above the plate 25and at a point where the knife 50 moves across the plate. This hopper issupported by a bracket 51 secured to the cylinder 2|. The hopper 55 isadapted to contain a division agent which may be either some form ofmineral or chemical dust which is discharged continuously upon theasphalt as it is being extruded through the perforation 25, therebymaintaining the asphalt as it exudes from the perforation in a state ofdivision.

A tank 58 which is partially filled with liquid such as water, as shownat 59, is adapted to receive the particles of asphalt when they are cutby the knife 50. A plate 50 located adjacent the moving knife 50 isadapted to conduct the particles of asphalt into the liquid bath 59.

While I have shown theknife 50 as being heated with a Bunson burner 52,this knife may also be heated electrically. In this case the interior ofthe blade Si is hollow and is provided with resistance wires 52insulated from the shell of the knife. The shaft 43* in this case ishollow and wires 53 and 54 pass through the hollow shaft and through aring 65 which carries the knife 6!. The wire 53 is connected to a ring55 which is insulated at 61 from the shaft 43. The wire 64 is connectedto a ring 58 insulated at 59 from the shaft. A brush I is adapted toengage the ring 66 that is connected with a source of current H and thecircuit includes a rheostat I2 for controlling the amount of currentpassing through the knife A second brush I2 is included in the circuitrepresented by the wires 14 and and engages the collector ring 55. Aslong as the switch arm I5 is in the proper position current will beflowing through the blade 5| for heating the same so that it willproperly cut throulgh the asphalt expressed from the cylinder 2 Theoperation of my device is as follows: The asphalt employed is selectedat a place within the container l0 and the container is heated to causethe asphalt to pass through the perforated screen I l. The asphaltpassing through the'perforated screen in streams is sprayed by the waterbefore it falls into the tank. I and this asphalt forms small masseswhich are removed and deposited in the hopper 25.

Due to the revolving screw 22, this asphalt is of the cylinder 2| andforced through the perforations 25 and since the knife 50 is revolvingin synchronism with the screw 22 and heated by the gas flame from theburner 52, or electrically, asshown in Fig. 4, the knife will readilycut through the asphalt to provide particles which fall into the liquidbath 5! in the tank 58.

By giving the asphalt an advance treatment, as shown in Fig. 1, theasphalt does not stick or adscrew 22 so that it may be readily forcedthrough the perforations 25 in the plate 25. When desired, the divisionagent in the hopper 55 may be released so that it will be applied.continuously to the extruding asphalt where said asphalt is being cut.This division agent will maintain the particles in a state .of divisionwhen thzy are deposited in the water bath 59. Y

The pellets formed are of such a nature that they may be readilytransported and they will not coalesce during transportation.

' It is claimed:

1. An arrangement for manufacturing particles of asphalt comprisingmeans for forming streams of melted asphalt, a bath of a moving liquidto receive the streams of asphalt whereby the asphalt is softened, meansfor extruding the asphalt through passages, and heated means for cuttingoff the extruded asphalt to form particles.

2. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprisesmelting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping thestreams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcingthe asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting off theextruded portions of the asphalt while heating the portions of theasphalt where being cut.

3. The method of manufacturing particles-of asphalt which comprisesmelting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping thestreams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcingthe asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting oil theextruded portions of the asphalt while heating the portions of theasphalt where being cut, and interspersing the cut-off particles ofasphalt with water.

4. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprisesmelting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping thestreams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcingthe asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting ofi theextruding portions of asphalt while heating the portions of the asphaltwhere being cut, and applying a division agent to the extruded asphalt.

5. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprisesmelting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping thestreams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcingthe asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting off the extruding portions of asphalt while heating the portions of the asphaltwhere being cut, and applying a division agent to the extruded asphaltwhile said asphalt is being cut.

6. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprisesmelting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping the,

streams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, removingthe asphalt from the water bath, placing the thus treated asphalt in aconfined space and applying pressure to the asphalt while forcing theasphalt through the restricted passages from the space in the formofstrings of asphalt, cutting oil the asphalt as it is extruded from thepassage to form particles while heating the asphalt when being cut.

7. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprisesmelting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping thestreams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, removingthe asphalt from the the thus treated asphalt in I and applying pressureto the water bath, placing a confined space asphalt while forcing theasphalt through the restricted passages from the space in the form ofstrings of asphalt, cutting off the asphalt as it is extruded from thepassage to form particles while heating the asphalt when being cut andapplying a division agent to the asphalt when the same is extruded.

8. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprises dividingmelted asphalt, spraying the divided asphalt with a liquid, dropping thesprayed and divided asphalt into a body of the liquid to form spongymasses of the asphalt, pressing the spongy asphalt through a screen tofree the asphalt of water and forming strings of the asphalt, cuttingoff said strings to provide particles.

9. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprises dividingmelted asphalt in the presence of water to form a spongy mass,expressing the spongy mass through restricted passages while separatingwater from the spongy mass, cutting oil the asphalt into particles as itis expressed,

10. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprisesdividing melted asphalt, spraying the divided asphalt with a liquid,dropping the sprayed and divided asphalt into a body of the liquid toform spongy masses of the asphalt, removing the liquid from the spongymasses of asphalt while dividing the asphalt into strings and cuttingoff said strings to provide particles.

11. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprisesdividing melted asphalt in the presence of a fluid to form spongy massesof the asphalt, removing the fluid from the spongy masses while dividingthe spongy masses into strings and cutting off the strings to formparticles of asphalt which will remain in a state of separation whenstored in piles.

NAOMI W. DOWNARD,

Administratria: of the Estate of James Shelby 30 Doumard, Deceased.

